Toy jet vehicle



Mmh 20, 1951 M. J. POLLAK 2,545,586

TOY JET VEHICLE Filed March 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 llm ea! J March 20, 1951 M. J. POLLAK 2,545,586

TOY JET VEHICLE Filed March 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IMH l an a:

Jimivz Z Jr fiza/reci J March 20, 1951 M. J. POLLAK TOY JET VEHICLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 28, 1946 mmmmn mllmln w .mm

Patented Mar. 20 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY J ET VEHICLE Manfred J. Pollak, Chicago, Ill. Application March 28, 19 K, Serial- N0. 657,663

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in traversing toys. and has for an object to provide aself-propelled toy vehicle having a power plant of the so-called jet propulsion type arranged or mounted with relation to its body assembly in 'sucha manner that when kinetic energy is developed thereby, thrust will be obtained and hence, powered movementv of said toy will be. effected.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a toy or model airplane of the jet propulsion type wherein, by the controlled discharge of gaseous matter from its power plant at. high velocity, thrust power characteristics will be developed and derived, whereby to. propel the airplane forwardly at a. speed entirely sufficient to effect its take-off" in powered flight, the. duration of which will be maintained for a period of time commensurate to or with the quantity of gas supply provided to its power. plant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy or model vehicle in which the power fuel supply therefor, following its exhaustion byoperation of the vehicle, may be conveniently, quickly and simply replenished or re-established.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide the toy vehicle power plant with an advantageous and novel form of jet-nozzle, so constructed and formed as to accord with the hydrodynamic equations of pressure flow of fluids through an orifice whereby to cause the produced power jet to attain and maintain a maximum velocity, thus ensuring the production of comparative and steady peak power thrust for propelling the equipped vehicle.

An equally important characteristic of the in- .vention resides in the provision of a traversing to'y or model vehicle wherein the fuel supply reservoir thereof is so arranged and/or housed with relation to its body assembly as to permit of the attainment of a structural design which will" materially reduce aerodynamic drag and. so, greatly enhance or improve its. over-all opera:- tional efficiencies.

' It is also an object of the invention to. provide tothe vehicle power plant, a novel and positive, though simply operable, control valve in order that an instantaneous and maximum fiow out.- letting of fluid or gas from the vehicle supply reservoir to the jet-nozzle thereof may be man.- ually effected and maintained, and moreover, whereby the toy may be easily and successfully launched into motion by one person.

""The foregoing, as well as other objects, advanftages and meritorious teachings of my invention, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the. following detailed disclosure thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the forms of theinvention presented herein are precise and what is. now considered to. be the better modes of embodying its principles, but that other modifications and changes may be. made in specific embodiments without departing from its essential features.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a. fragmentary top plan, view of a model or. toy airplane embodying the invention.

Figure. 2 is a front end elevation of the same.

. Figure 3, is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail, in. longitudinal section, of my improved jet-nozzle showing the manually operable fluid control valve in its closed position; av part; oiv the gas: reservoir being frag} mentally shown in operative relationship thereto.

Figure 5 is a. similar view wherein the control valve is. shown in its open position. v

Figure 6 is. a-detail, in side elevation, of the-gas storage or reservoir compartment and the valve controlled jet-nozzle.

Figure 7 is a side elevational detail, in reduced scale, of the toy airplanecarriage assembly.

Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating its tail assembly.

Figure 9 is. a fragmentary top plan View of a modelortoy airplane embodying a modified form of my invention.

Figure 10. is a front elevational view of the same 7 Figure 11 isa. side: elevational view thereof with a part of. the fuselage. tail structure shown in section to. illustrate the manner of removable mounting of the. gas: storage or reservoir device.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail, in longitudinal section, of the gas I storage or reservoir device holding bracket and said device and the jetnozzle retained therein; the. latter assembly being shown in side elevation. Figure 13v is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, in longitudinal section, showing. the jet-nozzle in operative or communicating relation to the com,- pressed gas; storage or supply device, and

Figure 15 is a similar View, wherein the jetnozzle is shown in an inoperative or non-com.- municating relation to. the compressed gas; storage or supply device.

talities of my invention in a model or toy airplane. Artisans skilled in this particular industry, however, will understand and appreciate that the same can be equally well adapted to various other types of traversing toy vehicles, viz: land or marine vehicles, without in any manner exceeding the ambit of the invention.

In detail, the illustrated airplane embodiment of the invention comprises a body or fuselage I, a jet-nozzle 2, an airplane carriage assembly 3 and an airplane tail assembly 4.

The fuselage I consists of a substantially ovate body designed or shaped (according to the established rules of aerodynamics) so that it will offer only a minimum of frictional resistance when moving or being thrust power propelled through the atmosphere at high velocities. Said body is preferably made from duraluminum or similar metals and may be satisfactorily produced by deep drawing and swaging operations, and should be capable of storing therein a suitable gas, such 'as nitrogen, compressed at a high pressure, as for example, fifteen hundred (1500) pounds per square inch. Thus, it will be understood that the body I constitutes an effectual gas storage or reservoir compartment for the vehicle. The size of the body I, of course, may be varied, according to the over-all size of the particular toy vehicle to be fabricated.

The curved forward end portion of the body I constitutes the nose of the airplane. Its rearward and reduced end is formed with an inwardly tapered pipe threaded opening into which the outwardly tapered nipple extension of the jetnozzle body 2 is removably though tightly engaged (see Figure 4) Referring to the jet-nozzle of the vehicle power plant assembly (the body I and the jetnozzle 2) shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the same is preferably, though not necessarily, made from a single piece of magnesium a1- loy or a metal having comparable eificiencies. It is cross-sectionally generally circularly shaped to correspond with and be contiguous to the crosssectionally circular rear and adjacent end of the body I and is substantially longitudinally tapered to carry through the body streamlining design of the toy. l A gas or fuel discharge way, generally identiiled by the numeral 6, is formed in and extends longitudinally through the nozzle body 2, while a second and transversely disposed way 'I is formed in and extends through an intermediate portion of said nozzle body, intersecting the way t, and has its opposite ends enlarged to form pockets 8 and 9, the purposes of which are hereinafter described. Short screw threads 8' are formed within that end portion of the transverse way I adjacent the pocket 8.

The jet discharge way 6, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, has its inwardly disposed throat portion II) (that portion between the way I and the free end of the nipple 5) outwardly flared or divergent, and its outwardly disposed throat portion II (that portion between the way I and the normally outer end of the body of the jet-nozzle 2) inwardly longitudinally tapered or convergent to and communicating with a somewhat enlarged opening II communicating with the way I. The jet discharge way 6, because of its above described formation, accords with the hydrodynamic equations of pressure flow of fluids through an orifice in order to allow or cause the fluid or gaseous jet produced thereby, during operation, to attain maximum velocity, thus, ensuring the production of a power thrust of maximum efiiciency.

If desired, the normally outer or trailing crosssectionally circular end of the nozzle body 2 may be reduced and formed with external pipe threads, as at I3, and internally circularly enlarged, as at I2. Such an arrangement will per mit connecting the nozzle body 2 to the appropriate and usual fittings of compressed gas supply tanks or like means (not herein shown) whereby convenient, satisfactory and economical refueling of the combined airplane body and gas storage compartment I may be effected, as and when desired.

To control the flow of compressed gas from the body I into and through the jet discharge way 6, a cylinder valve I4 having an intermediately located peripherally disposed reduced portion I5, is snugly and slidably received in the transverse way I, as shown in the drawing, Figures 4 and 5. The length of the valve is greater than that of the way 1 whereby to facilitate its manual operation. One of these ends mounts a knurled knob I6 or like device. Its opposite end portion is formed with short screw threads I'I adapted, at times, to be turned into engagement with short threads 8' in the way I adjacent its pocket 8.

In closed position, the reduced portion I5 of the valve I4 is disaligned with the intersected discharge way 5 (see Figure 4 of the drawings). It is securely retained in such position by bodily rotation, through the knob I6, whereby to engage the short threads I! thereon with the threads 8' in the adjacent end of the transverse way I. Thus, flow of gas or fluid from the airplane storage body I through the jet discharge way 6, will be prevented.

To open the valve I4, and so, allow flowiof compressed gas from the storage body I through the jet discharge way 6, a person engages the knurled knob I6 and rotates the cylinder valve I4 in a. direction to disengage its end provided threads I! from the threads 8 in the way I. By sense of feeling, the person may readily determine when complete thread disengagement has been effected. Then, to complete the opening operation, the knob I6 is pressed inwardly, driving it home into the pocket 9 and simultaneously sliding the cylinder valve I4 to a point in the way I where its port I5 registers with the intersected jet discharge way 6, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. Thereupon, a full and/or maximum discharge of compressed gas from the storage body I through the jet discharge way 6 will be instantaneously effected.

It is to be noted that formation or shaping of the jet nozzle body 2 is o effected that a greater amount of metal is provided around the throat portion of the jet discharge way 6. Hence, cooling of the body, at this particular point, is reduced to a minimum, with obvious advantages. Attention is also directed to the preferred use of nitrogen for fuel and compressed storage in the airplane body I. This gas or whatever ga is so employed or stored, should have a low critical temperature, below centigrade, in order that partial liquefaction thereof may not occur due to the rapid cooling which accompanies expansion. It is believed that carbon-dioxide is not suitable, for this reason.

The carriage assembly 3 (wing and landing gear) may be constructed of any suitable material, such as light metal, wood or plastic, or combinations thereof, as conditions or preference :5 may dictate. Alongitudinally spmp qy br cket t8: is satisfactory, having bellied bottom or lower and side portions, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, whose contour substantially accords with that of adjacent portions of the body I. The bracket 18 is snugly engaged with and about the intermediate part of thebody I and is clampingly connected thereto by engaging rivets (9, or their equivalents, through complemental flange portions 20 on its opposite ends.

Wings or sustaining planes H are suitably and fixedly connected to the opposite sides of the bracket l8 and extend outwardly therefrom. Each of these wings 2| has a leg 22 fixed to its underside, carrying wheels 23. A third wheel 24 may be and preferably is suitably mountedon a leg 25 fixed to and dependingfrom the forward portion of the underside of the bracket 18 ('see Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings); Thus, it will be seen that landing gear of the well known tricycle type is provided the carriage 3, for an obvious purpose.

The tail assembly 4 (rudder, stabilizers, elevators, etc.) like the carriage assembly 3, may be constructed from light metal, wood, plastic or combinations thereof, and consists of a longitudinally split bracket 26 shaped or contoured to substantially conform with the contour ofthe normally rearward portion ofthe airplane storage body I (see Figure 3 of the drawing-s). This bracket is engagedwith and aboutsaid rearward portion of the body I, somewhat forwardly of the trailingend of the jet-nozzl 2, and is clampingly connected thereto by engaging rivets 21 through complemental flanges 28 on the lower ends of its opposite and split sides. Note, in this connection, that the opposite sides of the split bracket 26 have portionsthereof cut away, whereby to expose the opposite ends of the cylinder valve [4 in the jet-nozzle 2 and its knob 16; hence, allowing unimpeded engagement with and satisfactory operation of the same.

Horizontaland vertical stabilizer 29. and 3E, equipped with elevatorflaps and a rudder 3i, are mounted'or carried on the normally upper portion of the split bracket 26, as will be seen upon reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings; Such equipment, as is usual, at this time, in the construction and designing of jet propelled air-- planes, is slightly forward of the trailing end of the jet nozzle 2-, i. e., its discharge or mouth portion l2.

In operation oruse of my improved jet propelled toy airplane, it is importantto note that the same can be readily and satisfactorily launched by one person. Preparatory to so doing, and assuming that the body I is charged with a sufficient quantity of gas, the person rotates the cylinder valve M in a direction to disengage its screw threads l1 from the threads 8' in the way 1:. Following this thread disengagement, the toy is held in one hand by said person in proper launching position with the fingers graspingthe off or far side of the body in proximity to the jet-nozzle 2 and the thumb over and lightly resting on the knob H or the control cylinder valve i4. When satisfactorily set, the thumb is sharply moved inwardly, thereby transmitting a moving pressure to the valve and slidingly drivingit home, i. e., to that position shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, in which position the. valve reduced portion l5 will be fully registered with the intersected jetdischarge way 6 and perm t a instantaneous maximum flow of comp ssed as from the s orage body I through and. from; the jet-nozzle. 2 At: this. moment, the,

plane is released from the hand of the launcher with a forward launching sweep of his arm. The power thrust created by the jet discharged compressed gas will propel the toy into powered flight, viz: air sustained travel in a direction opposite to that of the issuing power jet. Such flight, as will be understood, may be more or less preregulated or controlled by satisfactory or desired preadjustment of the flight control devices of the tail assembly 4. The duration of the described jet powered flight of the toy or model airplane will, obviously, depend on the supply of compressed gas within its body I'.

With exhaustion of gas from the body I and landing of the toy airplane, said body may be readily and economically recharged with compressed gas for further use or operation by con-.- necting its screw threaded jet-nozzle end 13, through suitable fittings, to a compressed gas supply tank or similar means and admitting a proper quantity of the same thereinto via the now opened control valve M, which latter, following recharg ing of the body I, is closed.

In the Figures 9 to 15, inclusive, of the ac-. companying drawings, I have shown a modified form of my invention as adapted to a model or toy airplane. The same consists of a body or fuselage 32 having wings or sustaining planes 33 mounted on its opposite sides and extending 'out-' wardly therefrom. A tricycle type of landing gear is attached to the fuselage and wings by connecting a depending leg 34 to the underside of the forward or nose portion of the fuselage and mounting a wheel 35 on its lower portion, and a depending leg 36 to an appropriate portion of the underside of each wing, on which suitable wheels 31 are mounted.

Tail assembly controls, including a rudder 38, elevator flaps to and stabilizers 39, are fixedly mounted on the upper side of the rearward portion of the fuselage 32, as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings.

The fuselage, wings and tail assembly of the to airplane may be made from any suitable and sufliciently light materials, such, for example, as light. metal, wood or plastic, or combinations thereof. Moreover, they may be designed according to any style or'type of noW known and prevalent model airplane.

The rearward portion of the underside of the fuselage is formed with a longitudinally disposed downwardly opening chamber 4 l, the rear or trailing end of which is open, as shown in Figure 11.

Longitudinally received within the chamber 4 I, is a downwardly opening trough-like bracket 42, the interior of which is conveniently and readily accessible from or through the adjacent downwardly opened side of said chamber. The length and width of the bracket 42 is such that it occupies most of the internal area of the chamber M, having the rearward end wall thereof adjacent the open rear or trailing end of said chamber and its side walls adjacent the chamber side walls whereby the same may be fixedly connected, and said bracket thus securely supported by the fuselage 32 within the chamber. An outwardly directed pocket or dimple $3 is formed in an intermediate portion of the forward wall of the bracket 42, and a substantially longitudinally aligned circularly shaped opening is formed in its opposite. or rearward wall adjacent the aforesaid open rear end of the fuselage t2.

Snugly received and extending through the circular openin provided in the end wall of the bracket 42., is: a cylindrically shaped sleeve 44 An intermediate portion of said sleeve is externally or peripherally collared, as at 45, and fixedly engaged with or staked to adjacent portions of the bracket rear wall, as well shown in Figures 14 and 15. In this manner, the sleeve will be immovably mounted longitudinally of the bracket 42, having one portion thereof within, and another without, the same. The inner end of the sleeve is swaged or somewhat flared, as at 46, and its outer end portion is externally screw threaded throughout, as at 131, for purposes hereinafter more fully described.

Slidably received in the sleeve 44 is what I term a jet-nozzle 48. It consists of a cylindrical body whose diameter is such as to effect a rather snug engagement in said sleeve 44. An outwardly divergent cross-sectionally circular discharge way 49 is formed in and extends longitudinally through the jet-nozzle body 38 and opens onto its opposite ends. The inner or reduced end of the jetnozzle discharge wa 49 communicates with a hollow needle 56 co-axially mounted on the inner or forward end of its body 68 by means of a taperjoint The outer or rearward end of said body is annularly reduced and extended from the sleeve 44 and loosely receives a winged-nut 52 thereon, displacement of which is prevented by swaging or heading the reduced extension, as at 53. The winged nut 52, in turn, has threaded engagement with the externally threaded part of the sleeve 44. Thus, by turning said nut on the screw threaded part of the sleeve 44, it will be seen that the jet-nozzle body 43 will be slidably moved within its housing sleeve 44, the direction of movement, of course, depending upon the direction of rotation of the winged nut 52.

Note, at this point, that the winged nut 52 is arranged aft of or beyond the open tail of the fuselage 32, and hence, is readily accessible or engageable for turning, as and when required.

Slidably engaged over the inner end portion of the sleeve 54 is a co-axially disposed combined centering and retaining sleeve or adaptor 54, whose extent of inward or forward sliding movement is limited by engagement with the swaged part 46 of said sleeve 45. The hollow needle 55 is arranged substantially concentrically of the adaptor 54. A coiled spring 55, engaged about the inner portion of the sleeve 44, bearing on an adjacent portion of the adjacent end wall of the bracket 42 and on the slidable adaptor 54, normally retains the latter in extended relation to the fixed sleeve 46, somewhat beyond the free end of the hollow needle With a view towards providing the toy airplane with power or jet propulsion or thrust, I employ a substantially cylindrical cartridge or container 56 made of light though strong metal. One end of this container is rounded, as at 57, for snug engagement in the dimpled part 43 of the forward end wall of the supporting bracket 42. Its remaining end is formed with a reduced neck 58, whose mouth is normally closed by a conventional puncturable cap-seal 59. The overall length and diameter of the container is such that it can be placed or inserted in the trough-like bracket 42 through its open side and the adjacent open side of the chamber 4! in the fuselage 32 (see Figures 11, 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings) The container 56 contains gas (nitrogen) at high pressure, i. e., approximately fifteen hundred (1500) pounds per square inch.

To insert and supportingly engage the compressed gas container in the bracket 42, the

winged nut 52 isunscrewed with relation to the threaded portion 41 of the fixed sleeve 44. Thereupon, the toy airplane is turned, belly up, for convenient access to the downwardly opened fuselage chamber 4|. At this time, the slidable adaptor 54 is slid rearwardly against the pressure of the coiled spring 55, and while so held, the container 56 is put into position Within and longitudinally of the bracket 42, with its rounded end 51 engaged in the dimple 43 of the bracket forward end Wall and its neck 58 co-axially adjacent the open end of the spring pressed slidable adaptor 54. The adaptor, thereupon, is permitted to return, under urge of the spring 55, to its initial position, and in so doing, will be cappingly engaged over the container neck 58. Thus, the container will be positively secured in supported position within the bracket 42. At the same time, the sharpened free end of the jet nozzle hollow needle 56 will be positioned in proximity to the puncturable cap-seal 59, as shown in Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.

To launch a toy airplane constructed inaccordance with the above illustrated and described modified form, and assuming that a compressed gas container 56 has been properly engaged therein, a person holds the same in one hand, and while so held, engages the winged nut 52 with the fingers of his other hand, turning the same inwardly and thereby causing the cylindrical body of the jet-nozzle 48, along with the hollow needle 50, to be slid forwardly or inwardlyof the fixed sleeve 44. A more or less predetermined number of turns of the winged nut, will advance r the sharpened end of the hollow needle 50 into puncturing engagement with the container neck cap-seal 59, hence, effecting an instantaneous re,-.. lease and maximum outflow of compressed gas from the charged container 55 through said needle into the communicating convergent inner end of the jet-nozzle discharge way 49. Simultaneously with the puncturing of the container cap-seal 59 and discharge of compressed gas into the jet-nozzle 48, the toy airplane is released from the holding hand of the person, with a forward catapulting movement thereof. The highly compressed gas discharging and surging into and through the outwardly divergent way of the jetnozzle 48, at a great velocity, imparts an effectual, power or driving thrust to the toy in a direction opposite to that of the issuing jet, as indicated in Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings, hence, causing the same to become airborne in powered; flight.

As hereinbefore stated, the duration of the jet propulsion flight of the toy airplane will depend on the quantity or supply of compressed gas in the container 56.

With depletion of the compressed gas in the, container 56, power generation and thrust will; of course, discontinue, and the toy, after gliding for some distance, will become earth contactedv and roll to a gradual stop.

The now empty container 56 may be removed, from the bracket 42,-discarded and replaced by a. fresh or active one.

While I have hereinbefore described my in-: vention with some degree of particularity, 2,5138% ing adapted to jet power drive a toy, or model airplane, it will, of course, be understood that the same can be quite as advantageously and satisfactorily adapted as a power plant to various other designs and types of traversing Vehicles, as for example, toy automobiles, boats, trains, etc." Furthermore, if desired, certain smoke producing 9 chemicals may be added to the gas compressed in the storage or reservoir compartments or containers of an equipped vehicle (air, land or marine), whereby to produce smoke trails and like visual elTects concurrently with the powered driving or propulsion of the same;

I claim: 1. In a traversing toy, a body having a downwardly opening chamber in the rearward portion thereof, a downwardly opening trough-like bracket mounted in the body chamber longitudinally of the same, a sleeve carried in one end wall of the bracket extending longitudinally of the same and outwardly thereof, the outer end portion of said sleeve being externally screwthreaded, a jet-nozzle slidably received in the sleeve and its outer end portion normally extended beyond the outer end of said sleeve, a piercing means in and extended from the inner end portion of said sleeve connected to and m-ovable with the jet-nozzle, and a nut engaged on and with the screw-threaded portion of the sleeve and rotatably connected to the outer end portion of said jet-nozzle.

2. In a traversing toy, a body having a downwardly opening chamber in the rearward portion thereof, trough-like bracket having an open side mounted in the body chamber longitudinally of the same, a sleeve carried in one end wall of the bracket extending longitudinally into the same and outwardly thereof, the outer end portion of said sleeve being externally screwthreaded, a jet-nozzle slidably received in the sleeve and its outer end portion normally extended beyond the outer end of said sleeve, 2. ducted piercing member in and extended from the inner end portion of said sleeve engaged with an adjacent portion of the jet-nozzle and movable therewith, a nut engaged on and with the screw-threaded outer end portion of the sleeve and rotatably connected to the outer end portion of said jet-nozzle, an adaptor slidably mounted on the inner end portion of said sleeve Within said trough-like bracket, and means engaging said adaptor for normally retaining the same in an outwardly extended position with re lation to the inner end of said sleeve.

MANFRED J. POLLAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,586,595 Barringer June 1, 1926 1,612,794, Bender Jan. 4, 1927 1,694,714 Markus Dec. 11, 1928 2,066,517 Campbell Jan. 5, 1937 2,169,142 Stabbing Aug. 8, 1939 2,314,057 Slotsky et a1 Mar. 16, 1943 2,324,744 Ward July 20, 1943 2,349,480 Walk Mar. 23, 1944 2,384,193 Platt Sept. 4, 1945 2,410,682 Richardson Nov. 5, 1946 

